I think for crew members the phone card they purchase is $10 for 60 minutes. Thats the ceapest way to contact from the ship so i heard. I heard that phone card which they uses is cheaper then internet.

Other thing is what the crew members doing, using Verizon phone plan which is $3.99 every time you uses and after that for that perticular day is unlimited talk. so for one day unlimited talk you pay only $3.99+tax. Thats what most of the crew member using.

This is what i know may be someone can have better idia.

 Thanks for the response.  I'm not quite sure what you mean for the 2nd option.  It's $3.99 per minute for the first day but every time after that is free?  If you don't mind could you explain how that option works.  We have verizon but when we called them they never gave her that type of option.

Thanks

MattM1124:

It's $3.99 per minute for the first day but every time after that is free? 

That option is $3.99 per day, regardless if you talk for just 1 minute that day, or for hours. 

The only problem, is if you get their answering machine.  That message costs you $3.99.  Try again the next day, and again get their answering machine, that's another $3.99.

Basically, it is an unlimited calling plan that could cost you up to $120 a month ($3.99 times 30 days).

Only problem with this plan is that it will work only from US port not from the ship if the ship is in the international water. It will cost you more if you will use it from outside US. I know in Inspiration lot of crew member using this phone and plan when they are in US.

MattM1124:

We're gonna try an international calling card from like Wal mart first and see if it can be used with the ship's phone.  if that works then We can just buy like a 2000 minute one and be set.

I am not sure if there is any calling card that works from the ship's phone (your cabin phone).

Just recently I have discovered another way to call from the ship.  There are cell phones out there now like the I-Phone & Blackberry that are WiFi connectible.  These are computer connected phones that can access at the Internet Rates.  For a ship crew member that could be cheaper way if they have special interconnect rates than non-crew members.  For instance, on 7 day cruises the rate is $100 for 250 minutes or $.40 per minute.  That could be the cheapest way if it works.  Need someone to check it out.

1. semaphore flags
2. smoke signals from shore
3. message in a bottle